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Canyons of Heros "

Ticker Tape Parade

New Yorkers know how to organize a ticker tape parade! I was at the corner of Battery Place and Washington St and could barely get a standing spot at the barricade. Finally, I saw a spot available and quickly ran towards it.

Within seconds, I realized why it was available, it was right in front of a sewage vent and it sticks real bad! A lady walked past it and said, “someone just farted’”and I just looked at her and smiled. She must think that it’s me. I clinged on to the spot anyway, bearing the motto in mind, ‘This too will pass…’

There was so much to see to be bothered by the stench. Groups of marching bands getting ready, Irish pipes group practicing, Giant Yankee T-shirt balloon being set up, policemen controlling the crowd (with unusually huge smiles), the excitement was contagious!

I waited for another 45 minutes. The stench actually went away (or I got used to it). The parade has not started. Some ‘pre-confetti’ were being thrown from the buildings nearby, shredded paper, bathroom paper and whatever paper-like items . I have no idea flying bathroom paper can conjure so much joy in me!

The parade started and everyone went crazy. I read that some people lined up along Broadway as early as 5 am! I have not seen so much paper falling from the ‘sky’ in my life before, it felt almost like snowing, what a sight to remember!

The cleaning up process was a sight to behold as well. Blowers, oversized brooms, tractors were standing by and within hours, the streets were spotless. I’m actually more amazed by the clean up than the mess up. (See the pictures below for the ‘happy’ mess created)

According to officials, the parade cost more than $300,000. Apparently, the city only funded less than 10% and the rest came from donations. More than a million fans lined the route of the parade. Seems like a big sum of money for a parade in this economic climate, but this breaks down to just 30 cents per person.

Do you think it’s worth it? Perhaps it was. It has been a long time since I saw so many happy people in Financial District. (Beside those-you-know who are reaping in record breaking bonus again…)